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The other day watching a game, I commented to myself after watching 3 teams play this past week, that although most of these players are very, very good and belong where they are at this moment in time, most will never see a ML field. There just isn't room at the top for everyone. Regardless of where my own player is at this point, we still agree that college was his best option, after HS. I just wanted to mention that again, I know that draft time is approaching, it's important to discuss with your son what he really wants to do and understand the implications for all decisions.
Springfield provided an insite into the game at the AA level and all of the bells and whistles of milb baseball as entertainment, where in the FSL league, pretty much not much happening in the way of making it interesting to the fans and the players. There was always something going on, one of my favorites was the player interviews on the scoreboard, where they ask silly questions and the players have to think fast. In sons case, they asked about favorite dream girl, son's response was he hoped his fiance wasn't listening when he gave his answer. We got a big kick out of that and so did Lauren.
We got a grand tour one night of the behind the scenes operations that go on at Hammons Field and met all of the announcers, writers and everyone else who works hard each night for 3-5 hours to keep fans in their seats and the history behind Hammons field. Even with a rain delay one afternoon, 13 innings one night, many fans always remained until the very end. Friday night is fireworks night, and due to the time frame, they had to set them off before 11 pm (city ordinance). Everything seemed orchestrated and the fans love the games and events that take place between each inning. The 7th inning stretch is designated by the Budweiser Clydsdales pulling the wagons on the screen, something in which all cardinal fans relate to. Also I learned that the Titanic was built in that area, so each night up on teh board are trivia questions regarding the famous ship.
Two days and three days before each pitcher pitches, they have to chart, and the day before their start, at home, they have to catch the first pitch (which can become 4 or 5 first pitches). On saturday, they wore camo jerseys for military appreciation day, and Dave caught to some top brass in the military and a 4 star general, the day after they pitch, each pitcher has to greet fans as they come into the gate, on Monday was Dave's greet day, mini bat giveaway, he was signing those bats like crazy, taking pictures with fans. I think that was my husbands favorite, although we have seen in before, it's quite a humbling experience to see your son stand there with a line in front of him. Fan adoration, it's part of the game and these players are being taught how to take care of business with fans.
The weather was beyond horrible, miraculously every night the rain stopped and they played ball, however, on Sunday with a 2 pm game and son pitching we weren't sure if there would be a game, then the sun came out, and after 3 scoreless innings there was a delay. He was on a clock 45 minutes before being pulled and just made it back out for two more scoreless innings. Below is the article about his game.
Of course that game made our trip all worth while. :)
Because of where we sat, most people who attend every game figure out pretty quickly that you are a player's parent, and we were showered with pictures taken by them of our players, extra attention from the attendants for that area and the vendors as well. Everyone really made us (other parents there too) feel special. It really was a wonderful feeling, and pretty proud feeling that the person you have raised is looked up to by young players and appreciated by older fans. They want to ask a lot of questions, politely, and we didn't mind answering. They want to know some things, like pitch counts, if they are single or married, have children, where they went to school, where they fell in the draft (although most of them knew they still want to ask you).
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